What’s Hot Central Florida 10/31 – 11/6

My birthday is coming so soon, I can taste it! It falls on a Monday this year (November 11), so I haven’t decided to celebrate the weekend before or the weekend after. Where should I celebrate my birthday? E-mail me at mike@hotspotsmedia.com and I just might consider your suggestion! Lots of love to you all!

Thursday October 31

Dress up (or down…yes, down, put on as little as possible!) for The Naked Dead: Zombies in Underwear Party going on at Stonewall Bar Orlando. Doug Bowser is hosting this party, which starts at 10 p.m. and promises a very sexy Dead Meat Hot Zombie Contest at midnight!

BarCodes in Orlando will be celebrating Halloween with a costume contest, with prizes totaling the wicked amount of $666! There will be hourly raffles for merchandise packages and gift certificates. With every drink you buy, you get a free raffle ticket!

Want the chance to take home up to $3000 in cash? Parliament House in Orlando is offering what they call the city’s biggest costume contest. Did you know Parliament House now offers VIP bottle service in their new Icon Lounge, sponsored by Grey Goose? For more information, go to parliamenthouse.com.

Going back over to the Bay, the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg will be hosting their Halloween Bash. The winners of their costume contest will be receiving $1000 in cash and prizes. There will be a drag show and lots of different contests and games throughout the evening.

Friday November 1

Miss Gay USofA at Large and Pulse Orlando staple Angelica Sanchez will be celebrating her birthday tonight, and you should come out and help her celebrate! The drag show will go on at 12:30 a.m., with a special guest! The Pulse Dancers will be on hand to get everyone feeling festive, and as always, DJ Scott Robert will be in charge of music. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Saturday November 2

Bradley’s on 7th in Tampa is having a CD release party for New York’s emerging electronic 3-piece band Cash Cash. Their debut EP is called “Overtime” and features the dance hit “Take Me Home.” Their production team has worked with Krewella, Icona Pop and Bruno Mars so they are sure to climb the charts. Remember, Bradley’s never has a cover!

Wednesday November 6

Doug Bowser is popular in the Orlando scene, and just days after Stonewall’s party, he’ll be hosting his regular Team Trivia night at Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando. It’s free to play and there are great prizes to be won! Trivia starts at 7:30 but you can join in anytime! To reserve a table, call (321) 319-0600.

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WAIT JUST A MINUTE…

Now wait just a minute…the St. Petersburg mayoral election is coming up on Tuesday, November 5! Incumbent Republican mayor Bill Foster faces off against Democrat Rick Kriseman.

Kriseman received the endorsements of the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County and Equality Florida fairly early in the campaign. While in the State House, he co-sponsored legislation to allow gay adoption, to ban discrimination in the workplace, and to create a statewide domestic partnership registry. While none of these bills advanced in the legislature, he proved his dedication to the St. Petersburg LGBT community.

Foster, however, has struggled with supporting LGBT equality. He eventually approved domestic partnerships and a city employee partner benefits bill in 2012, and became the first St. Petersburg mayor to officially recognize LGBT Pride Month this year. But he took his time to change while the LGBT community waited…a wait they didn’t have to endure.

Do not waste your voice by wasting your vote. No matter who you choose, just make sure you go to the polls on November 5 and choose.

Mike Halterman has been the editor of Hotspots Central since its launch in July 2016. He joined the Hotspots Media Group family as editor of Hotspots' South Florida magazine in June 2013. A former "40 Under 40" honoree in The Advocate magazine, Mike lives in the Tampa Bay area.